The Will of God Works in You
Wherefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure (Philippians 2: 12-13).”
Christian, do you believe that Almighty God is the Source of your will? God not only expects you to do His will; but, if it so be you have been born again He is “in you to will and do His good pleasure.”
Everything mankind does begins with the will. The will is the gift of God. Will is determination to proceed on a certain course of action. The grace of God works through that will. But don’t ever forget all things good or bad begin in the “will” after receiving some sort of stimulation of the mind.
Jesus promised, “I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever (John 14:16).”
The Christian is warned about idle words1 the same might be said of idle thoughts; for this reason the Spirit of God is given to those born again of the Spirit through the act of faith that accepts God and He reveals His Son.
There is a relationship between God and the Christian it is a spiritual familial relation. God is the Father and Jesus is our brother. We are connected spiritually with every other Christian, by the Holy Spirit, in the entire world. It is possible to meet another person and as soon as each receives the witness of the Holy Spirit that they are one in Jesus Christ it is like a family reunion with a long lost brother or sister. There is a relationship between the two that resembles nothing else on earth. The Spirit of God will not take you where the Word of God can not keep you.
It is the love of the Father, His written word and the Son that resides in both that brings recognition and acceptance.
The Spirit of God is the life that was in the Son of God as he went about in the flesh in His earthly ministry. That same life is imputed to the believer when he accepts Jesus as the Christ, the mediator (Messiah) between God and man.
“Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer (Romans 12:12).” When Christians begins to mature in the Spirit there is more time than not the spirit of prayer is always at the surface of their thinking. The Christian is warned in the parable of the “sower and the seeds”2 about keeping close to the mind of Christ by being constant and instant in prayer. The adversary will catch the good seed out of his mind and heart, cares and trials of everyday life will choke out the good seed, or if there is no spiritual food for the seed it will not spring forth and provide more.
Many that name the name of Christ are weak and discouraged because they do not keep the spiritual family relationship and prayer upper most in mind. They become depressed and lose sight of the promise of God “never to leave nor forsake”3 them.
If a person has believed God and accepted the gift of eternal life through the Son God’s will is always in his or her mind. When that person looks to the Holy Spirit for encouragement there is no need to wonder if the will of God is being done. It is! God has promised it. “For it is God which works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”
Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
- (Ephesians 5:4)
- Psalm 121: 7; The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
- Luke 8: 5-15
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